South Asia Times

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Down The Line

Pakistan confronts a new security dilemma as the Afghan Taliban provides sanctuary to the TTP while building diplomatic ties with its adversary, India.

The Instrumentality of Asymmetry: Taliban Hedging and Pakistan’s Compounded Security Dilemma

SAT Editorial Desk October 11, 2025

The security architecture of South and Central Asia is undergoing a significant realignment, the implications of which are crystallizing along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. To view the Afghan Taliban’s engagement with India and the TTP’s escalation of attacks as disconnected is to miss the emergence of a complex geopolitical dynamic. This signals a fundamental recalibration of regional relationships, forcing Pakistan to confront a renewed and more intricate security dilemma.

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The Nobel Peace Prize or War Prize? A History of Controversial Laureates.

The Nobel Peace Prize or War Prize? A History of Controversial Laureates

SAT Editorial Desk October 8, 2025

Far from being an impartial recognition of pacifism, the Nobel Peace Prize’s legacy is marred by controversial laureates whose actions have been linked to immense violence. The prize is not a universal arbiter of peace but a political instrument reflecting a Western-centric worldview, rewarding figures who align with its geopolitical interests, regardless of the blood on their hands.

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An analysis of the Trump Gaza peace plan. Despite Hamas's surprise support, deep divides over security and sovereignty threaten any chance of lasting peace.

The Promises and Perils of the New Gaza Plan

SAT Editorial Desk October 5, 2025

A new Gaza peace plan by Donald Trump has international backing and a surprising partial acceptance from Hamas. However, its journey toward lasting peace is threatened by critical deal-breakers and the unresolved core question of Palestinian political sovereignty.

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Anatomy of a Diplomatic Failure: The 20-Point Gaza Plan

Anatomy of a Diplomatic Failure: The 20-Point Gaza Plan

SAT Editorial Desk October 1, 2025

A 20-point Gaza peace plan, initially hailed by a coalition of eight Muslim-majority nations, represented a rare moment of consensus in Middle East diplomacy. But this optimism was short-lived. Following a pivotal meeting between US and Israeli leaders, the plan was radically altered, transforming a multilateral framework into a security-centric arrangement that alienated its initial backers and triggered a crisis of trust. This is the story of how a potential breakthrough unraveled into a diplomatic failure.

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Between Security and Privacy: Contextualizing Amnesty’s Claims on Pakistan’s Surveillance

Between Security and Privacy: Contextualizing Amnesty’s Claims on Pakistan’s Surveillance

SAT Editorial Desk September 25, 2025

Amnesty International’s Shadows of Control paints a bleak picture of Pakistan’s digital surveillance. Yet by sidelining the country’s acute security challenges, dismissing existing legal safeguards, and overlooking its own credibility issues, the report offers a partial and misleading narrative. A more balanced approach requires situating surveillance within Pakistan’s counterterrorism imperatives and recognizing the global double standards at play.

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The End of Liberal Internationalism? America’s Retreat into Realism

The End of Liberal Internationalism? Trump’s New Realism

SAT Editorial Desk September 25, 2025

Donald Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly marked a sharp break from America’s seven-decade stewardship of the liberal international order. Rooted in realist principles, his speech rejected multilateralism, attacked the UN’s legitimacy, and reframed alliances as transactional bargains. From immigration and climate policy to NATO and Middle East conflicts, Trump outlined a vision of unilateral power and national sovereignty that directly challenges the institutional foundations of global governance.

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